Thanks. Likes of Rapha, 7Mesh, Endura all offer good repair service but only do their own stuff if I understand right. Might just try my luck with local alterations/seamstress place!

Thanks. I tried turning the others off, and turning the power to the board from the house off, and nothing lets me move this guy. Seems “mechanically” off, it’s not that I can move it and it wants to flip off again. Will ask an electrician!

I’m planning a US trip next month and intend to buy an eSIM from holafly: https://esim.holafly.com/esim-usa/

19 bucks for 5 days unlimited data. No calls mind, but your regular SIM/number still works for making/receiving calls and SMS, and you can call with WhatsApp. Needs a relatively recent phone.

Have done similar in the past with a T-mobile 30-day tourist eSIM.

Herniated L5-S1 when I was just 23 from a waterskiing accident. Really bloody painful. It took me about 6 months before I could walk properly again, and another 6 months to get my confidence back to lift things/run/mountain bike.

Saw an expensive chiropractor and made very slow progress (only later realised what pseudo-scientific nonsense that is) before switching to a proper physio and rapidly improved.

I sympathise completely with your pain – know that with patience you can make great progress and recover fully. Wishing you a smooth recovery!

I built Geometry Geeks so I would upvote it, wouldn’t I? ;)

Thx for the kind words, folks!

Bob

https://geometrygeeks.bike/compare/cervelo-r3-2018-58,scott-solace-disc-2017-xl-58,ridley-kanzo-c-2020-m,ridley-kanzo-c-2020-l,ridley-kanzo-c-2020-xl/

(from a website I built)

Large seems a good choice, but note while the reach is less, the effective TT is slightly longer on the Kanzo – I doubt it’ll feel less stretched out. Well within the ‘tunable range’ afforded by stem choice and sliding saddle fore/aft.

Enjoy the new bike!

Your Magic Box is Aidy’s option (1) which should give you decent broadband speed provided you get a half decent signal outside the house, but won’t do anything for your phone signal. You should be able to voice call over wifi though, if your handset supports it. Good luck!!

:)

What 4G signal do you get externally, on what network?

@duncancallum – Giff Gaff is a MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) that uses O2’s network. Vodafone use their own network. You’d need to see which gives you a better 4G signal – they’ll most likely use different masts, and might well be on different frequencies. A multi-frequency repeater may also include the 2G/3G frequencies too. Generally, cost goes up with more frequencies. You will probably need to point your external antenna at just one mast though.

@Aidy – if OP goes the route I used with a 4G repeater/booster, it will improve phone signal on 4G, as well as allowing use of a 4G router (or phone directly, or phone as a wifi hotspot) to get broadband over 4G. I had no trouble getting a legal booster, but there are certainly several attractively-priced but probably-illegal options direct from China on eBay. Agree femtocells are no use at all for OP’s use case!

We had same issue with rubbish broadband speed, so ditched the phone line entirely and went 4G. To do that, I…

– used iPhone ‘field test mode’ (google it) to determine location of nearest 4G mast and what frequency it’s on. (There are a few 4G frequencies, ours is 1800MHz. Mast is just over the brow of a hill.)
– bought a signal booster (aka repeater) and antenna (directional parabolic because we only got 1/2 bars signal outside the house). Bought from mobilerepeater.co.uk – their website appears to be down at the moment? Others available. Note you need to choose the right kit for the right frequency, or pay more for a multi-frequency one.
– Paid a man £100 to mount antenna properly on the roofline and pass coax cable into the attic.
– Set up booster in attic with a simple whip antenna on the ‘out’ side.
– Use a 4G router (Netgear DWR-953, others and more recent models are available) sited about 5m away in room below.
– Use an EE SIM card and get unlimited data for £25/mth.

Results: 3-4 bar phone signal throughout the house, broadband speeds of 20-40mbps download, 15-30mbps upload. Very happy.

I’m a 32 waist, 34 leg in chinos (6ft2 and skinny)

Just got the Endura MT500 Spray trousers (size M) and I’m delighted with them – first pair I’ve found with a decent leg length for me!

I did also try the Nukeproof Blackline in M, but it was flags at half mast. Light and stretchy and quiet, but not for the long of leg.

Shameless plug: geometrygeeks.bike, the website I run, lets you search by geometry numbers for a fiver. Might help you find something big with a reasonable seat angle!

Reach >515 and seat angle >75 gives 79 results, including those mentioned above plus Trance X, Commencal Meta AM, Last Glen & Coal, Trek Slash… some ideas.

Happy hunting!

Bob

Another tall & skinny, long-legged person here. What trousers are longest in the leg?

I’ve just worn the Nukeproof ones today – I like the fabric, light and stretchy and the waist is good (size M) but it’s about 2″ shorter in the leg than I need. Draughty ankles all ride. I’m 32W34L, 75kg/6’2″. Didn’t wear pads but you could prob get some slim ones under there.

Fox are preventing their own customers from customising their purchase with well-made decals, and thus engaging more with their brand.

By not taking action years ago, they’ve implied they’re ok with it and Slik have grown a business on that premise.

It’s dumb.

I understand the copying-without-permission point, but Fox could have taken a much more enlightened approach by allowing them to licence it at low cost/free, or pre-approve designs, or partnering with them in some way.

Just because you’re right in law doesn’t mean you’re right in principle, or that by winning in court, you win. They need to see the bigger picture.

This is a PR disaster in the making. Giant corporation takes tiny business to court, to what end? Do you think their lawyers have heard of #roubaixgate or Backcountry?

I own Fox forks with Slik graphics on them, and I now think considerably less of Fox.

I’ve signed the petition, but I’m also about to email Fox and Silverfish to say how dumb this is.

Having just tonight smashed the carbon cage on my XTR M9100 mech, can anyone tell me if it’s possible to buy replacement cages?

To OP’s original question… dunno I’m afraid, only been running it a year but jockey wheels good as new.

I bought a rim from them last year because Bike24 only had one in stock and y’know, I wanted two. It was very cheap, not particularly quick… but exactly as advertised.

Thanks everyone. Very simple Doro 1360 ordered.

Hmm interesting idea… I do have an old router sitting around that was plenty stable. Transparent bridge to that? Will report back.

Haven’t tried pinging external hosts yet – what will that tell me? (I’m operating on the edge of my understanding/competence!)

It’s been firmware-updated and factory-reset-ed to death. No joy.

Nothing visible in the logs either.

Dang and blast.

Yep for clarity, 4G data connection is fine when accessing internet from iPhone via its own SIM card.

Conference calls are on work laptop, connected over VPN, but given everything else on that laptop drops too I didn’t think it was VPN related.

I tried using cloudflare DNS instead of the default (provided by EE I presume) but it made no difference.

I also wonder if it’s just a bug in the router that I need to live with until I find an alternative…

Another vote for Pedalcover. Don’t even need to specify the high value bikes.

Full disclosure – they supported a website I run for a few years – but I used them before and I continue to use them afterwards!

I’m now using Designer instead of Illustrator… it was already exceptional value at full price! Can confirm: is good.

Can’t comment on these pads, but I can say that my Shimano roadie discs get very squeal-y. Fixed by blowtorching the pads for 20sec with a wee kitchen blowtorch. I need to do this every few months but it’s been 100% effective.

I notice the search is very sensitive: I was looking for a Whyte t129 but couldnt find it. But it is listed under t-129. That’s me finished nit picking for the day 🙂

Valid point, noted!

STW delivers.

I’ve used their climbing softshell thing for a year and it’s perfect. As is their not-Goretex lightweight waterproof with a hood big enough to go over a helmet.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/men-lightsoftshell-jacket-blue-id_8386970.html
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/men-alpinism-light-jack-orange-id_8544950.html

Hey longsider

I think you’re looking at these two… https://geometrygeeks.bike/compare/on-one-space-chicken-2019-l-57cm,specialized-women-s-diverge-e5-elite-2019-56/

The Space Chicken will feel slightly longer (due to seat angle), lower at the front (due to stack) and you’ll feel more on top (due to BB drop) compared with the Diverge. The key is slightly… if you swapped back and forth, you’d notice it. After 10 mins riding you’ll have settled into whichever you’ve chosen!

Of these differences, I think it’s the BB height that’s most significant – trading more pedal/chainring clearance for the feeling of stability and being ‘in’ the bike, as kerley says.

As others have said, you can easily adjust 20mm with spacers under the stem, sliding saddle fore/aft and/or swapping out a stem if needed, so don’t stress too much if it’s in the right ballpark.

Which one have you fallen in love with? Buy that.

Bob

Rule of thumb… one degree in seat angle is 15mm in fore/aft saddle position

But are we mere mortals actually riding more aggressive trails than we were 5 years ago (assuming we were already grown ups back then)?

I can only speak for myself, but I am. I now seek out the steep off-piste stuff at Glentress and the trails at Inners that I considered to be DH-only when riding certainly 10 years ago.

My own bike progression has been this one, from SC Superlight to Yeti SB5c to Yeti SB130, which I think neatly matches the trend we’re discussing.

I can’t say its exclusively geometry that has made me a MUCH better rider – more effective suspension, better brakes, dropper post, bigger wheels and more experience all must play a part – but I think it’s likely it has played SOME part in me riding much more gnar than I’d have contemplated 5-10 years back.

I did mine myself. Enjoyed it, but I was waiting on parts for the rest of the build, so I could take all the time in the world. If you have patience, DIY and you’ll be satisfied. If not, £80 is a decent price!

Glad you’ve found it useful. Cheers!

Cool thanks. That’s exactly the search term I needed… can see loads now.

Another vote for the Wera Hex Plus.

The hex is slightly flared so it’s much less likely to round a damaged/corroded/poorly sized screw head. Feels well made, colour coding is useful too.

Best allen keys I’ve ever used and sometimes available cheap on sportpursuit!

Cheers, Edukator. Yeah this is exactly the challenge. Perhaps a bit ambitious for STW to be able to answer this one… will seek out an equestriantrackworld.

Thanks but I’m hoping to find something that’s specifically not just trekking!

If equestrian XC is like racing enduro on a nice carbon Santa Cruz, trekking is like a canal path ride on a £150 hybrid ;)

My old set did that and I made it go by not having the reach all the way in, just a tiny little out sorted it out.

Fixed it! Thank you!

Didn’t even realise these brakes (ST-RS685) had reach adjustment. Manual here in case anyone else didn’t spot this 2mm hex screw…

I have the same rattle. I put some wee 5x5x2mm sticky pads inside (on top of that philips head screw), but it hasn’t really improved things. Open to ideas…!

Pedalcover. Great cover, very reasonable pricing.

(Full disclosure – they sponsor my site geometrygeeks.bike… but I was using them before that anyway!)

I also can’t upload one particular picture. Others upload fine and ticking ‘I have permission’ first made no difference. Taken with same camera (phone) minutes apart, and I’ve tried changing the file name. It is larger in size, but still under 1MB.